Pacific Crest Trail

Pacific Crest Trail

2,650 miles from Canada to Mexico; many trailheads along the way
Tahoe City, California
Visit Website

The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail is a 2,650-mile footpath stretching from Mexico to Canada and traversing the states of California, Oregon and Washington.

The trail is open to hikers and equestrians only; no bicycles or motorized vehicles are allowed.

Dogs are permitted on all sections of the trail except in national parks, but travelers with canines should respect the fact that in places where the trail passes through private property the easement may be only a few yards wide.

Leashes are optional for dogs trained to come when called and not chase livestock or wildlife interfere with equestrians. 

Each year more than 1,000 people set out to hike the trail from end to end; fewer than 200 finish.

Many portions of the trail especially around Lake Tahoe, are popular with day-hikers. Keep in mind that any thru-hikers encountered will appreciate refreshments!
 

dogtrekker.com, dog friendly, PCT, canada to mexico, carson pass wildflowers, carson pass

Road Trip! Explore a Scenic Byway
Ebbetts Pass - Photo Credit: @andreaheyfron
Ebbetts Pass - Photo Credit: @andreaheyfron
Fall is a great time for a scenic drive, and California’s National Scenic Byways and Scenic Highways provide guaranteed enjoyment for the eyes plus limitless opportunities for hiking with your dog in gorgeous country. Study maps and guides before you go—and, as wildfire season continues, be sure to check out air quality predictions, as well. Here are three scenic routes that are sure to rearrange your senses and set tails a-waggin'. more »
What’s Cookin’ In Calaveras County
Photo Credit: kpucster (CC)
Photo Credit: kpucster (CC)
Any time’s a good time to head up Highway 4 to the hip and happening town of Murphys, but if you can be there in October, so much the better. That’s when the annual Grape Stomp Competition and Gold Rush Street Fair fills downtown streets with vendor booths and lots of people with bewildered dogs on the other end of the leash. It’s probably the first time Duke and Daisy (and maybe you?) have witnessed a bunch of people stomping around in wine barrels, so go figure! more »
Snouts Out the Window
Road Trip! Photo Credit: Kip Leland
Road Trip! Photo Credit: Kip Leland
The farther you roam from metropolitan areas, the more relaxed the rules. Fall is a great time for a scenic-drive vacation, and it would be hard to find more options than in the Shasta Cascade region, which boasts 12 designated scenic byways, each with its own intrinsic qualities. The 500-mile Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway, which winds through the least populated part of California, is one of just 21 routes nationwide designated an “All-American Road” by the U.S. Department of Transportation. more »
Calling Calaveras County
Lou the dog by lake in calaveras county
Lou in Calaveras. Photo by DK (CC)
Mark Twain slept here. So did Western adventure writer Bret Harte. You’ll see their names plastered on b usinesses, schools and street signs all over Calaveras County, where dog-friendly communities like Angels Camp and Murphys don’t hesitate to play up their Gold Rush-era legacies. more »
Wildflower Extravaganza
wildflowersWhen it comes to five-star wildflower hikes, Carson Pass in the Mokelumne Wilderness south of Lake Tahoe has few rivals. more »
Download Our Free Mobile App


© 2025 DogTrekker.com